Qualifying At BMW Open Gets Underway

MUNICH, April 28, 2018

The ATP World Tour has returned to Germany for the 2018 edition of the BMW Open by FWU held at the venue of the MTTC Iphitos from 28 April to 6 May. On a sunny Saturday in Munich, tennis action got underway with the qualifying led by a strong contingent of players from Slovakia.

Martin Klizan, who just arrived from a quarterfinal clash with Rafael Nadal in Barcelona, continued his good run of form rallying past Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 2014 Munich champion saved four of the six break points he faced, converting three of his own to prevail after two hours and 12 minutes.

Next up for Klizan will be fellow Slovak Jozef Kovalik, who beat Sergio Gutierrez-Ferrol 6-2, 7-6 in one hour and 23 minutes. The 29-year-old Spaniard played his first qualifying at ATP World Tour level since Barcelona 2013.

Andrej Martin came back from a set down to overcome Austrian veteran Jürgen Melzer 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. The World No. 148 from Bratislava sent down nine aces, winning 66 per cent of his first service points to seal victory in one hour and 57 minutes. Martin will next take on Marius Copil from Romania. The top seed of the qualifying defeated Tim Pütz of Germany 6-3, 6-2.

Norbert Gombos completes the Slovakian quartet in the second round. The 27-year-old Galanta native fought past Germany’s teenager Rudolf Molleker 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Gombos won 51 per cent of the total points played and finished the encounter after one hour and 44 minutes. The World No. 147 will play Daniel Masur on Sunday.

Zverev awaits Hanfmann or Baghdatis

Earlier in the day, the official main draw ceremony took place. After a first round bye, top seed Alexander Zverev will start his title defence against either German wild card entry Yannick Hanfmann or Marcos Baghdatis from Cyprus, who attended the event.

The tournament’s No. 2 Roberto Bautista-Agut will play against the winner of the match between #NextGenATP Norwegian Casper Ruud and a qualifier. Three-time BMW Open champion Philipp Kohlschreiber will open his home campaign against big-serving Croat Ivo Karlovic.